Limitless Word

Blood and Atonement

WEBKJVBSBESVNKJVNASBNLT

Why blood — from Abel, through the Passover and the altar, to the cross.

From the first pages, blood marks the cost of sin and the means of covering it: Abel's blood cries from the ground, a lamb's blood spares Israel at the Passover, and the whole sacrificial system turns on the truth that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." It all reaches toward one offering — "the blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish." The trail ends with a multitude who "have washed their robes... in the blood of the Lamb."
  1. 1

    Garments of skin in the garden

    Genesis 3:21

    And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

    After the first sin, God himself clothes Adam and Eve with garments of skin — the first death, an innocent life given to cover their shame, foreshadowing the covering Christ would provide.
  2. 2

    Abel's blood cries out

    Genesis 4:10

    But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

    The first death: innocent blood crying from the ground for justice.
  3. 3

    The blood of the Passover lamb

    Exodus 12:13

    But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

    Blood on the doorposts turns away death — Israel is spared and set free.
  4. 4

    The Day of Atonement

    Leviticus 16:30

    On that day offerings of purification will be made for you, and you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins.

    On one day a year, blood makes atonement to cleanse the people from all their sins.
  5. 5

    "Without blood, no forgiveness"

    Hebrews 9:22

    In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

    Hebrews names the principle running through the whole law — and the better blood that fulfils it.
  6. 6

    Redeemed by the blood of Christ

    1 Peter 1:19

    It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

    Peter: ransomed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.
  7. 7

    Robes washed in the blood of the Lamb

    Revelation 7:14

    And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.

    The redeemed in glory are those cleansed by the Lamb's own blood.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.